TOWSON, Md. — A coincidental tip from someone on the scene of the fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a Towson University student brought about a chain of investigation and surveillance that ended in the arrest of the fleeing driver.
That’s the story laid out in charging documents for 36-year-old Man Bahadur Gurung, the man charged in the hit-and-run death of 20-year-old Mzimazisi Ncube as he crossed North Charles Street, south of Ruxton Road, around 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 8.
Ncube was struck by what was described as a Toyota truck. After being knocked down by that vehicle, Ncube was hit by a second car. That driver stayed and called 911. Ncube was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
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According to the charging documents, Officer C.M. Winter spoke with Witness One, who said she was driving behind an unknown SUV that struck a man, later identified as Ncube, in the right lane of northbound North Charles Street. The man struck was then run over by a silver 2007 Mercedes R350. That driver immediately pulled over.
Another witness, Witness Two, police spoke with said he saw Ncube crossing the street when he was struck from the left front of a larger vehicle. The witness said parts of the vehicle broke off after hitting Ncube. As Ncube was on the ground, the witness saw the Mercedes hit him, and that driver stop and immediately try to render aid.
While investigating the crash scene, Winter saw the driver side mirror from a vehicle and part of a back plastic driver side mirror cover lying in the road, not far from where Ncube was found. Using the engraved part numbers on the mirror and mirror cover, Winter determined the parts came from a 2007-2019 Toyota Tundra. Winter then went to Jerry’s Toyota to compare mirror parts with four model years of Toyota Tundra, eventually finding the parts to be a match.
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While Witness One was describing the truck she saw hit Ncube, she said, “matter of fact, I think they work with me,” at GMBC Hospital, according to the charging documents.
Winter used this information to review surveillance footage of cars leaving the GMBC campus around the time of the crash. The video revealed a dark colored Toyota Tundra leaving the campus via North Charles Street, with Witness One’s car making the same turn a minute later.
Since GMBC employees register their vehicles to obtain free parking, Winter was informed three Toyota Tundras with model years between 2007 and 2019 belonged to campus employees, one of which was registered to Gurung. Gurung was also listed as having worked on Dec. 8.
Two members of the Baltimore County Police then responded to Gurung’s listed address, where they saw a truck matching GMBC records and witness descriptions. The officers spoke with Gurung, who confirmed he had been working at GMBC on Dec. 8 and left around 10:30 p.m. In a written statement, Gurung said something “came from the left” while he was driving home and struck his car. He did not see what hit him but thought it was a deer. He said he could not stop due to traffic behind him. He said the driver’s side mirror of his truck had been damaged. He then showed the officers where he ordered parts to fix the mirror, and later where he got it repaired. Officers obtained receipts for both transactions.
Gurung was then arrested and taken to a precinct for processing. Police obtained a search warrant to attempt to locate DNA or other forensic evidence from Gurung’s truck that could further connectit to the fatal accident.
Gurung was charged on five counts in the death of Ncube:
- Failure to immediately stop vehicle at scene of accident involving death
- Failure to immediately return and remain at scene of accident involving death
- Failure of driver in bodily injury, death accident to furnish required identification and license
- Failure of vehicle driver in accident to report bodily injury, death to nearest police
- Failure of vehicle driver in accident to report bodily injury, death to nearest police
